Shoe sole and device for method for forming said sole

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a shoe sole ( 1 ), in particular for practicing a sport, comprising a support ( 3 ) of a general form corresponding to the surface of at least a part of the base of the shoe and comprising at least one first layer in a thermoform material, characterised in comprising at least one second layer made from thermoform material, the second layer ( 6 ) partly covering the first layer ( 5 ) in order to leave at least one free zone ( 7, 8, 9, 10 ) at the level of the first layer ( 5 ),the material making up the first layer ( 5 ) having a thermoform temperature less than the thermoform temperature of the material making up the second layer ( 6 ). The invention further relates to a device for forming said sole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a shoe sole, in particular for practicing a sport. The invention also relates to a device for forming said sole.

BACKGROUND

The practice of sports, such as running, golf or skiing, causes specific areas of the foot to work. The work of these specific areas is characterized by more or less significant pressures and constraints borne by the foot and related to the movement performed according to the sport in question.

Traditionally, manufacturers produce shoe soles, especially for a sport, including a support of general form corresponding to the surface of at least part of the bottom of the shoe, including thermoformable materials.

A thermoformable material is a material that becomes malleable when heated. The material is then molded into a definite form which it will keep when cooling.

The layers are fused in production to constitute a standard manufactured sole.

The structure and form of such sole are designed according to the movement exerted by the foot related to the practice of a specific sport. To ensure the comfort and improve the performance of the user, the sole includes areas to stabilize, cushion or propel specific parts of the foot.

A foot has a complex structure including a set of bones, muscles and joint levels. In particular, the foot is built on a series of arches. This series of arches is supported by muscles and ligaments of the foot to form an arch commonly known as the sole arch. The sole arch may have a volume, size or location that varies from one individual to another. Each individual therefore has a different morphology of the foot.

For this reason, such a mass-manufactured sole presents the major drawback that it cannot adapt to a particular foot or different morphologies.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The invention aims to solve these problems by proposing a standard sole, manufactured industrially and capable of being deformed in specific locations, to fit the shape of the foot while retaining the qualities of maintenance and cushioning of the foot in specific areas.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a shoe sole including a support of a general shape corresponding to the surface of at least part of the bottom of the shoe and having at least a first layer of thermo formable material, characterized in that it includes at least one second layer made of thermoformable material, the second layer partially covering the first layer to leave at least an open area at the first layer, the material forming the first layer having a thermoforming temperature lower than the thermoforming temperature of the material forming the second layer, and in that the first layer extends at least in the areas of the sole designed to carry the rear and central portions of the foot and substantially to the sides of the support, while the second layer is disposed in the rear area of the sole.

By the use of the invention, it is possible to adapt the sole to the precise form of a user's foot by heating it to the thermoforming temperature of the first layer. This layer can then be deformed while the last layer, which has a higher thermoforming temperature, retains its shape.

In addition, the fact that the second layer is disposed only in the rear area of the sole allows to adapt the portion of the sole that has the highest need of being customized, while leaving open the sensitive part of the front of the foot.

Preferably, in the rear area of the sole, the second layer is disposed behind the first layer in order to leave open at least one lateral zone.

According to this layout, it is possible to shape the sole in the areas corresponding to the center of the foot, the arch and its sides, while maintaining the initial conformation of the sole in the heel area with its stabilization and cushioning characteristics.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the second layer is located above the first layer.

Advantageously, the thermoforming temperature of the material constituting the first layer is between 60 and 70° C.

Preferably, the first layer comprises a composite polyester resin.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the second layer is formed by a composite resin including a polycaprolactone, polyamide and polyester grid.

The invention also relates to a device for shaping such a sole, characterized in that it comprises:

a casing having a lower and an upper part

heating means located in the lower part of the casing and arranged to heat the sole to a temperature corresponding to the thermoforming temperature of the first layer

the means of support for at least one sole located above the heating means, which support means include at least one opening located opposite to at least the open area of the first layer which needs to be softened.

The device allows heating the sole to fit a particular morphology of the foot.

Advantageously, the device includes detection means designed to detect the presence of a sole disposed on the support means of at least one sole and to allow for the activation of the heating means when the presence of a sole is detected.

Preferably, the detection means of the device includes at least one articulated blade designed to support the rear of the sole activating a contact when a sole is disposed on the articulated blade.

Advantageously, the detection means include two blades, one for each shoe.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the device includes protection means, comprising a hood, hinged on the casing and movable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position allowing the activation of a heating means.

The installation of two soles in the device activates the contact of each blade. The activation of the two contacts and the positioning of the hood in the closed position allows the activation of the heating means.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the heating means comprise at least one lamp.

This characteristic allows adjusting the heating power easily for the user, depending on the number of lamps and lighting duration.

Advantageously, the heating means includes three elongated lamps, arranged in parallel so that a lamp is placed under each sole and a lamp is disposed at the inner sides of two soles.

These layouts allow for optimal action of the heating means.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the support means of the soles include a plate with two wings forming a V.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In any case, the invention will be well understood from the description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing representing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this sole and a device for its forming.

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a sole;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a sole 1 of a shoe. The sole 1 is intended to be inserted into a shoe. The sole 1 comprises a support 3 with general shape corresponding to the bottom surface of a shoe.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sole 1 comprises a first layer 5 and the second layer 6 of thermoformable materials. The first layer 5 is arranged on the support 3.

The first layer 5 extends substantially in areas of the support 3 intended to carry the rear and central portions of a foot and substantially until the sides 7 of the support 3.

The second layer 6 is arranged on the first layer 5 in the rear portion of the support 3. The second layer 6 is arranged recessed from the first layer 5 in order to leave a open area of the first layer 5, which includes the sides 7, the rear edge 8, the central area 9 and the center of the heel 10 of the support 3.

The first and second layers 5, 6 are made using thermoformable materials composed of composite resins. The composite resin of the first layer 5 is a polyester. The thermoforming temperature of the polyester resin is 65° C. The composite resin of the second layer 6 includes a polycaprolactone, polyamide and polyester grid. The thermoforming temperature of the second layer 6 is between 75 and 80° C.

As shown in FIG. 3, a device 15 is used for forming the sole 1.

The device 15 is in the form of a casing 16 of generally parallelepiped shape having a bottom part 17 and a top part 18. The bottom part 17 of the casing 16 defines a volume on the bottom of which are arranged in parallel, three lamps 20. These three lamps are arranged longitudinally, one being central and the other two symmetrical on both sides of the first. These three lamps are halogen lamps with an output of 500 Watts, thereby providing a total power of 1500 Watts.

The bottom parts 17 and top part 18 are separated by a support plate 19 having two wings 21, 22 forming, when viewed in cross section, a V with its tip pointing downwards and is located in the median longitudinal plane of the casing. These two wings 21, 22 form support surfaces for two soles. The support plate includes in its central part, an opening 26 allowing a preferential heating of areas of the soles located opposite the opening. Ahead of the opening 26 and at the tip of the V, there is a rib 24, central and longitudinal, turned upwards. Behind the opening 26 there are two ribs 25 in the form of arcs of a circle, each having a central and longitudinal section connected to a cross-section turned outwards. These ribs serve to ensure the positioning of two soles on the two wings 21, 22 of the support plate.

The upper part of the casing is equipped, above the support plate 19 and behind the opening 26, with two articulated blades 27, 28 designed to serve as support of the rear areas of two soles positioned in the device. Each blade is associated with an electrical contact, not shown, disposed on the power system of the lamps and designed to be closed by the blade under the weight of a sole resting on it. In practice, the contacts associated with the two blades are mounted in series.

The upper surface of the casing is closed by a protection hood made of glass 29, hinged along one of its sides 30. This hood 29 is also associated with an electrical contact mounted on the power circuit of the lamps, in order to allow such power only when the hood is closed.

The control of the electric power of the lamps may contain a timing device to assure heating for a predetermined period, depending on the softening temperature of the first layer 5 and the mass to be softened. The duration of heating can, for example, be 10 seconds.

The use of this device is as follows:

Starting with a pair of soles shaped in the factory in a standard manner and adapted to the size of the feet of a user, the hood 29 of the device is open and the two soles are positioned on their respective supports, 21, 22 and on the blades 27, 28. The contacts associated to the latter are operated in closed position. The hood 29 is then closed, and operates in the closed position the contact associated with it. A pulse on a switch engages a heating cycle of fixed duration, ensuring the softening of the first layer 5 of thermoplastic material, but not the second layer 6 which is located in the rear area of foot stabilization and support. It should be noted that the positioning of the lamps and the inclination of supports 21, 22 of the plate 19 ensure uniform heating in areas where the shape must be adapted, which is notably the arch area.

After softening the first layer 5, the soles are removed from the device and are positioned either in the shoes of the user or on a molding support before the user adapts the two soles to the shape of his feet, by placing his feet on the soles which are in a partially malleable state. After cooling, the soles retain the shape that was given to them.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited only to embodiments of this shoe sole and the device for shaping such sole, described above as an example, but on the contrary, it covers all variations. 

1. A shoe sole, in particular for practicing a sport, compromising: a support of a general form corresponding to a surface of at least a part of a base of the shoe and including at least one first layer in a thermoformable material, at least a second layer made from thermoformable material, the second layer partly covering the first layer in order to leave at least one free zone at a level of the first layer, wherein the material making up the first layer having a termoforming temperature less than a thermoforming temperature of the material making up the second layer. wherein the first layer extends at least in areas of the sole intended to carry rear and central portions of a foot and substantially to a side of the sole while the second layer is disposed in the a area of the sole.
 2. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein in the rear area of the sole, the second layer is disposed behind the first layer in order to leave open at least one lateral area.
 3. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is located above the first layer.
 4. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1 wherein the termoforming temperature of the material of which the first layer is made ranges between 60 and 70° C.
 5. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the thermoforming temperature of material of which the second layer is made rangers between 75 and 80° C.
 6. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a polyester composite resin.
 7. Sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a composite resin containing polycaprolactone, polyamide and a polyester grid.
 8. Device for forming a sole according to claim 1, comprising: a casing presenting a lower part and an upper part, heating means located in the lower part of the casing and arranged to heat the sole at a temperature corresponding to a thermoforming temperature of the first layer, support means of at least one sole disposed above the heating means, which support means include at least one opening disposed at a level of at least an open zone of the first layer, which must be softened.
 9. Device according to claim 8, further comprising detection means designed to detect a presence of a sole disposed on the support means of at least one sole and to allow for activation of the heating means when the presence of a sole is detected.
 10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the detection means comprise at least one blade articulated and intended to support a rear part of the sole by activating a contact when a sole is placed on the articulated blade.
 11. Device according to claim 9 designed for heating of two soles, wherein the detection means include two blades (27, 28), one for each sole.
 12. Device according to claim 8, further comprising protection means comprising a hood hinged on the casing and mobile between an open position and a closed position, the closed position allowing for activation of the heating means.
 13. Device according to claim 8, wherein the heating means include at least one lamp.
 14. Device according to claim 13 designed to heat two soles, wherein the heating means include three elongated lamps disposed in parallel and one lamp is disposed under each sole and one lamp is disposed at a level of interior sides of the two soles.
 15. Device according to claim 8 intended to heat two soles, wherein the support means include a plate presenting two wings forming a V. 